The story of baby M - an Edmonton child on life support - has garnered a strong, and sometimes vile, public response from the time that it was speculated the child, who doctors say is brain dead, was put in that state by her own parents.

Please see at the bottom of our story for a comprehensive reaction gallery.

Reaction by our readers and by those following the case on Twitter has been one of extreme anger, confusion and even heartbreak.

“No one should have to die small alone and in the sterile arms of a hospital bed,” commented Liz Wilson.


The case was made the more polarizing when the parents, who are both charged with aggravated assault, criminal negligence causing bodily harm and failing to provide the necessities of life — charges that could be upgraded if the girl dies - claimed religious rights in their attempt to have the twin pulled off life support.

"Poor little soul. I truly hope that her nervous system has shut down to the point that she is incapable of feeling pain.

"As for her parents: Pah. Ugh. They're claiming it's against their religion. If the allegations against them are true, it's obviously against their religion to treat their children decently," said Juanne Michaud on our comments board.

Dana Sharp-McLean expressed empathy for those making the life-ending call.

"What an awful decision to have to make. I hope the child's end is peaceful," she said on a Facebook post.

@cassandranav's reaction on Twitter was similar..

We caution that some of the language in some of the slides below is of an extreme and adult nature.

Loading Slideshow...

Also on HuffPost:

Loading Slideshow...

  • Euthanasia In Canada

    Here's a look at the state of Euthanasia laws in Canada and their history.

  • Suicide Not A Crime

    Suicide hasn't been a crime in Canada since 1972. (Shutterstock)

  • Doctor-Assisted Suicide Illegal

    Doctor-assisted suicide is illegal, although the ruling of the B.C. Supreme Court will force Parliament to alter the law within one year.<br><br> The <a href="http://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/C-46/page-113.html#h-79" target="_hplink">Criminal Code of Canada states in section 241</a> that:<br><br> "Every one who (a) counsels a person to commit suicide, or (b) aids or abets a person to commit suicide, whether suicide ensues or not, is guilty of an indictable offence and liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding fourteen years." (Alamy)

  • Passive Euthanasia

    Passive euthanasia involves letting a patient die instead of prolonging life with medical measures. Passive euthanasia is legal in Canada.<br><br> The decision is left in the hands of family or a designated proxy. Written wishes, including those found in living wills, do not have to be followed by family or a proxy. (Alamy)

  • Sue Rodriguez

    <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rodriguez_v._British_Columbia_(Attorney_General)" target="_hplink">Sue Rodriguez</a>, who suffered from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (also known as Lou Gehrig's disease), launched a case asking the Supreme Court of Canada to allow her to end her own life on the grounds that the current law discriminated against her disability.<br><br> Because suicide is legal in Canada and Rodriguez was unable to end her life because of a lack of mobility, she argued it was discriminatory to prevent her from ending her own life with the aid of another.<br><br> The court refused her request in 1993, but one year later she ended her life anyway with the help of an unnamed doctor. (CP)

  • Robert Latimer

    <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Latimer" target="_hplink">Robert Latimer was convicted of second-degree murder in the 1993 death of his severely disabled daughter Tracy</a>. A lack of oxygen during Tracy's birth led to cerebral palsy and serious mental and physical disabilities, including seizures and the inability to walk or talk. Her father ended Tracy's life by placing her in his truck and connecting a hose to the vehicle's exhaust.<br><br>The case led to a heated debate over euthanasia in Canada and two Supreme Court challenges. <br><br>Latimer was granted day parole in 2008 and full parole in 2010. (CP)

  • Bills To Legalize

    Former Bloc Québécois MP Francine Lalonde tried repeatedly to get legislation legalizing euthanasia in Canada passed. Bill C-407 and Bill C-384 were both aimed at making assisted suicide legal. C-384 was defeated in the House 228 to 59, with many Bloc MPs and a handful of members from all other parties voting for the legislation.<br><br> Tetraplegic Tory MP Steven Fletcher, pictured, made the following statement after C-384 was defeated: <br><br> "I would like to be recorded as abstaining on this bill. The reason is I believe end of life issues need to be debated more in our country. I believe that life should be the first choice but not the only choice and that we have to ensure that resources and supports are provided to Canadians so that choice is free. I believe, when all is said and done, the individual is ultimately responsible. I want to make this decision for myself, and if I cannot, I want my family to make the decision. I believe most Canadians, or many Canadians, feel the same. As William Henley said in his poem Invictus, "I am the master of my fate: I am the captain of my soul."<br><br>(CP)